Winnipeg Jets fans have long known that Connor Hellebuyck is among the top two or three goaltenders in the National Hockey League.

It would now appear that the rest of the league’s fans have also noticed.

Late Thursday night, the Winnipeg Jets announced that Hellebuyck had been selected by the fans to participate in the 2023 NHL All-Star Game.

Hellebuyck will join Jets defenseman Josh Morrissey at the 2023 NHL All-Star Weekend, at FLA Live Arena in Sunrise, Fla., on Feb. 3-4, 2023.

Hellebuyck, 29, is in his eighth full season in the NHL, all with the Jets. A product of Commerce, Michigan Hellebuyck leads the league in games played (34) and minutes played (2,037), while his 22 wins, three shutouts, and 994 saves rank second in the NHL. Hellebuyck is also in the NHL’s top-10 netminders in both save percentage (T-4th: .924%) and goals-against average (9th: 2.41).

This season, the 2020 Vezina Trophy winner as the NHL’s top goaltender, has been quite impressive at his home rink, Canada Life Centre. He leads the league in wins (14), shutouts (3), and save percentage (.938%) on home ice and he also sports top-three numbers in home GAA (3rd: 1.84) and saves (3rd: 531).

This will be Hellebuyck’s third NHL All-Star appearance. He also  participated in the 2018 game in Tampa and the 2020 edition in St. Louis.

This will be the fourth time in the last five All-Star weekends in which the Jets will have more than one representative.

(Statistics provided by Winnipeg Jets)

Scott Taylor

Covered his first junior hockey game for the Sarnia Observer in 1968. Covered his first Jets game for the Winnipeg Free Press in 1980. Still thinks hockey is the bees knees.